Phil Arnone Passes Away

Longtime KGMB producer/director Phil Arnone passed away in Honolulu February 12th after battling cancer. The television veteran is credited with creating classic local programming such as “All in the Ohana” and “The Checkers and Pogo Show.” 

“If you had to pick one person responsible for quality Hawaii programming television it would be Phil Arnone,” said Robert Pennybacker, friend and KGMB collaborator.

Arnone was born in San Francisco 86 years ago. An army stint brought him to Hawaii in the late 50’s, where he would eventually put down roots. After military service he studied radio and television at San Francisco State College and got a job as a floor director at KPIX.

But the islands lured him back and he spent the next 20 years at KONA as a switcher/editor, then at KGMB directing the news under anchor/news director Bob Sevey. In 1989 he returned to San Francisco and produced programs for the Forty-Niners and Giants. In 2002 he hoped to retire back in Hawaii but soon found himself in demand as a producer.

“We are tremendously proud of Phil’s contributions in television, both locally and on the mainland,” says wife Michelle Honda. “Many have reached out with stories of him changing their lives with opportunities in television.”